PHILADELPHIA | Cira Centre | 434 FT | 133 M | 28 FLOORS | 2005

volguus zildrohar · #1 Posted **Aug 9, 2008, 5:24 AM**

Cira Centre was Philadelphia's first office highrise since the Trophy Tower boom of the 80s/90s which gave the city One Liberty Place.

It has its fans and detractors but no one can see the building live and have no opinion (especially at night).

The effect it has on the Philadelphia skyline changes depending on the angle from which you see it. Sometimes squat, sometimes sleek, it added a new dimension to a growing urban signature.

bucks native · #2 Posted **Aug 9, 2008, 11:50 AM**

Thanks, VZ.

Simply put, it's a jewel.

Patrick · #3 Posted **Aug 10, 2008, 12:17 AM**

Its a tad boring, and a bit uncreative, but sometimes like Bucks Native said, its a complete jewel.

PhillyRising · #4 Posted **Aug 10, 2008, 8:00 PM**

I love it but I wish they would keep the roof closed when they aren't using the window washing crane.

I can't wait until it's siblings are built down the street!

plinko · #5 Posted **Aug 11, 2008, 12:17 AM**

It's an interesting sculptural piece of architecture. The dynamics of the facade are merely in planes vs. in depth. Still, the facade lacks the vibrancy expected of such a prism, and isn't quite what it should be (see Fountain Place in Dallas for an exceptional example, or even Hancock in Boston).

I didn't care for the night lighting scheme, but that's just me.

That being said, it adds an uncommon element to the Philly skyline, and the fact that it is still isolated gives it that much more prominence. A very good thing.

CapitalCity · #6 Posted **Aug 11, 2008, 1:01 AM**

A very good looking building

volguus zildrohar · #7 Posted **Aug 11, 2008, 4:35 AM**

PhillyRising, the opening for the window washing boom doesn't close. That was something kind of shocking I noticed when I was up there.

It isn't noticeable from most angles and isn't much at all unless you know it's there.

JManc · #8 Posted **Aug 11, 2008, 7:37 AM**

is this recent?

becuase it was like this when i was there in 2005. you could lay out and get a tan at 2 in the morning it was so bright.

DecoJim · #9 Posted **Aug 11, 2008, 5:57 PM**

I have been to Philadelphia and yet I have no opinion of this building.

...just kidding.

For a relatively modern building, I like it. It may or may not be a jewel, but at the minimum it does look like a 30+ story quartz crystal.

volguus zildrohar · #10 Posted **Aug 13, 2008, 3:54 AM**

JMancuso, that's from 2006 or so.

PhillyRising · #11 Posted **Aug 18, 2008, 12:34 AM**

The best view of this building for me is when I'm going westbound on the Vine Street Expressway....it looks very slender and sleek.

bryson662001 · #12 Posted **Aug 18, 2008, 3:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhillyRising

The best view of this building for me is when I'm going westbound on the Vine Street Expressway....it looks very slender and sleek.

I wish they would have one of their amazing light shows more often. When they were 1st testing the lights one night I saw fantastic swirling cascades of light in many patterns and in every color in the rainbow. I know they can't do it often because it literally stopped traffic but i've never seen it repeated and it would be nice to see it again.